Any recommendations on a generic spare rim for a '78? I've got Western Wheel 15x7 Snowflakes on the car, no spare. Space saver is long gone, and not really looking for a period correct setup anyway. But don't want a 5th snowflake or a Rally II in there either. I'm fine with a plain old ordinary full-size, properly sized rim.

What's the widest tyre on a stock rim type that will fit in the correct location in trunk? I seem to recall someone saying it was about a 245 that will tuck under the edge as long as you didn't have large speakers? Having said that, it would also be handy to see if much larger tyre spare can fit in middle or trunk, no point throwing a skinny on the back when you get a flat only to find you can't get it in the trunk!

I'm not sure how common the 14" rims are now, as long as you have same stud pattern, and just use a taller tyre on a plain black rim minus the hubcap. Old school style mag wheels can be picked up cheap where they are no longer a set or popular.

205-75-15 would be ideal. In fact that might be the biggest full size spare available was something like that. The Esprits with a full size spare are pretty common and those are FR-78. Trans Am with a full size spare was prohibited, it looks to me, in 1976. I am not totally clear on whether the factory ever did a 225 full size spare after the trunk floor was changed.

Some might think I'm crazy, but I could care less about the extra gas volume. What........do I need the extra fuel for all of the cross-country driving I'm gonna do? Or maybe for all my business trips to Dallas that I'm gonna do in a 1975 T/A?

No that's stupid.

My '75 trunk pan is rusted, and as soon as I get to it, that tank is being replaced by an earlier tank and I'm gonna re fit an older deeper trunk pan to that car. Way more practical than an extra 3 gallons. What is that, an extra 7 miles, anyways?

I'm using a couple of these "hideaway" or space-saver tires and wheels that I found in the trunks of 80's GM cars in a Pull-A-Part yard. If you can find them, many have never been used. Of course the tire is over 30 years old, so if I need to use it, hopefully it would last long enough to get me home or to a tire store. If necessary, I've found that the tire size, T125/70D15, is still available new.

Ok, see if this is of use. I just dragged my spare 15x8" rim out to test in trunk. A little bit shorter in tyre but matched to my current setup, the tyre is a 235/60 and it will fit but not go in all the way. It can be clamped in place with stock bracket but the clamp will have to be at an angle to reach. That is with no carpet and tyre rubbing on the jack clamp.

As mentioned before, a 245 would not be able to fit in same location. To get the 235 in it was still needed to put in from other side and then slide across, possibly the easiest way with any size that isn't a Space saver.

Just for interest, when the rim is sitting on the LH side of the trunk floor, there is just over 5cm of room between the tyre lettering and the trunk seal height, in theory I could get a 285 in on that side and still close lid. I have 285 on the car, one day I'll check it. This is in my '78.

I'm using a couple of these "hideaway" or space-saver tires and wheels that I found in the trunks of 80's GM cars in a Pull-A-Part yard. If you can find them, many have never been used. Of course the tire is over 30 years old, so if I need to use it, hopefully it would last long enough to get me home or to a tire store. If necessary, I've found that the tire size, T125/70D15, is still available new.